One Room Challenge Fall 2016 – Week 5 – It’s Always A Mad Dash…

One Room Challenge Fall 2016 – Week 5 – It’s Always A Mad Dash…

Well, my friends, we have the bones of a pretty room.

In case you are new here, or you would like a refresher on the whole process of my One Room Challenge this season, click the following links:

One Room Challenge Week 1 – Why We Chose the Master Bedroom

One Room Challenge Week 2 – The Plan

One Room Challenge Week 3 – Ceiling Crash & Wallpaper Calamities

One Room Challenge Week 4 – Wallpaper Removal & Closet Transformation

Last week, I told you about removing the old wallpaper and making the closet opening larger, which was really a dramatic transformation.

From this:

bedroom before

To this:

closet door in

Next we had to get the trim and doors painted.  This part is easy and went off without a hitch.

black trim paint

The paint made a BIG difference in the feel of the space.  Remember how my husband was really insistent on dark trim?  I have to hand it to him, it does look great!  As a reminder, we used Farrow & Ball’s Black Blue – not too black, with a hint of deep deep blue, it’s perfect!

trim painted

Next step was the ceiling wallpaper.  I chose Ellie Cashman’s Dark Floral 200% Saturated, and I was really excited to get the rolls and see the large pattern up close.  The detail and depth of this pattern is so fabulous, she is one talented woman!  Ellie is based in the Netherlands, and I placed my order on Tuesday, and the rolls were ON MY PORCH IN TEXAS ON FRIDAY!!  How’s that for fast shipping??!!  I could hardly believe it!

One strip went up, and I was so happy with it!  Also, I moved the opaline knob to the bathroom door, and it looks so pretty, right?

The ceiling wallpaper took a couple of days to finish, and then it was time for the grasscloth to go up on the walls.  I had to patch a few areas where I was a bit aggressive when I took the old wallpaper off, and it was so neat to see papers of the past.  Clearly, this room is meant to have some black accents and some flowers!

old wallpaper

I put up about eleventy billion samples of grasscloth wallpaper on the walls, and I think we found the one that met all of our requirements.  We wanted: a slight sheen, a neutral not-too-ivory-not-too-white background, slight texture (not too much “grass”), with a tone that was not too beige or yellow.  I love the texture a grasscloth brings, and I want the room to reflect the personality I am envisioning for it.  I want this bedroom to feel glamorous and elegant, yet still approachable, with a touch of romance, and an overlying sense of coziness.  (wordy I know – I wrote that description based on how it looks in my brain)  All that to say, we opted for a more silky looking grasscloth, versus the more heavy “grass” look I usually choose.

wallpaper

When I originally saw the doors framed in, I still had faith the doors would look great, but at this stage, it is still a bit scary because this does not look terrific, right?  A couple of coats of paint and some wallpaper later, I could really see the room taking shape.

Before:

new closet door

After:

after paint

Fairly dramatic, yes??!!  Befores and afters are the best!

So let me pull back the curtain a bit on the One Room Challenge, okay?  So Week 5 is really the last week of this deal.  After this post is up, I have a maximum of four days.  (I would say three, four is reeeeeeally pushing it)  You have to post the reveal one week from now (next Wednesday or Thursday), which really means you have to take pictures Monday or Tuesday in order to have them edited and ready.  Although many participants have already finished, photographed, edited, and pre-written their post for next week, I would say there are many folks (like me) who still have yet to complete their space.  (not to mention photograph it, eek!)  Once you finish the bones, you get into the real nitty-gritty of accessorizing and placement, and figuring out what to do about things you thought would work and don’t.  And things like mirror size (see below).

Aaaaaand funny side note…you put up one piece of art (see the arch in the picture above) because it simply makes you feel better to have SOMETHING on the walls.  HA!

There are so many details that make a space.  Seemingly insignificant elements you do not notice on first glance, much like pieces of a puzzle, come together to form a (hopefully) amazing-looking whole.

Example of one of those minute details: the fact that I need to switch these plug plates to blend with the trim.  And people that own old homes will understand this, but we are upgrading to three-prong outlets in this room, wheeeeeeeee!

one room challenge

I am currently mulling over pillows, flowers, bedding, rugs, art, accessories, and lighting.  Again, I feel more calm at this point than I did last season of the ORC, but I definitely feel the strong tension of getting it all done in a short amount of time.

Thank you for following along!  I’m excited to see the space complete in the next few days, and I’m even more thrilled I can reveal it to you next week!

You should also check out the other One Room Challenge participants by clicking here!  Special thanks to Linda from Calling It Home for putting together this season’s ORC, and to House Beautiful for being the Media Sponsor.

Until the next story.

xo, G

25 Comments
  • heather
    Posted at 20:07h, 03 November Reply

    Totally unique. Completely amazing. It’s looking so fantastic!

    • Grace
      Posted at 20:31h, 03 November Reply

      Thank you so much, Heather! I’m excited about it, but I can’t get too amped up until it is DONE! 😉 xo, G

  • Jenny
    Posted at 20:29h, 03 November Reply

    I always love seeing what you come up with, Grace! There is always an unexpected twist!

    • Grace
      Posted at 20:31h, 03 November Reply

      Awww thanks! I like being unpredictable. 😉

  • Lou
    Posted at 20:30h, 03 November Reply

    Killer doors! How do they open?

    • Grace
      Posted at 20:32h, 03 November Reply

      Hey Lou, I have hardware for them, I just don’t have them up yet! It’s going to be great though. I went big! 😉 xo, G

  • Jeanne
    Posted at 21:34h, 03 November Reply

    Wow. I’m crazy about the black trim and the doors…oh, yes…and wallpaper on the ceiling…you are brave…you are bold…you are a hero!

    • Grace
      Posted at 08:25h, 04 November Reply

      Jeanne, you’re so sweet! Thank you. It’s coming together! Eeek! xo, G

  • Stacy G
    Posted at 06:06h, 04 November Reply

    It looks great, but you had me at “three-prong outlets.” Swoon! 😀 (Fellow old home owner here.) We are keeping the same schedule as you are. We will be scrambling to take photos on Monday or Tuesday. See you next week!

    • Grace
      Posted at 08:26h, 04 November Reply

      HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!! Thank you for that! #fistbump I’ll think of you while I’m scrambling! 🙂 Good luck! xo

  • Shelly Mathes
    Posted at 06:21h, 04 November Reply

    Oh boy, what a transformation. I just love it, all of it. Have you thought of using Black outlet plates to blend in? You got this.

    • Grace
      Posted at 08:26h, 04 November Reply

      Shelly, you’re right on the money, honey! We are totally changing them to black! Thank you for the confidence! xo

  • Shelley
    Posted at 06:42h, 04 November Reply

    I love the ceiling and black trim! Everything’s looking great! Don’t stress, you got this and will have a stunning reveal post next week. I just know it!

    • Grace
      Posted at 08:27h, 04 November Reply

      Awww thanks Shelley! I’m headed out today to gather accessories and other last minute stuff. Fingers crossed! xo

  • erin
    Posted at 07:15h, 04 November Reply

    Wow! It’s looking amazing. I definitely see the difference in the two grasscloths. Can’t wait to see the reveal!

    • Grace
      Posted at 08:28h, 04 November Reply

      Erin, for sure! In fact, after I saw the old grasscloth next to the new ceiling wallpaper and then compared the new grasscloth to the ceiling, it made me a smidge happy the ceiling fell. 🙂 I think the look is much better overall! xo, G

  • Nancy
    Posted at 09:31h, 04 November Reply

    i believe in you! you got this! can’t wait for the big reveal 😉

    • Grace
      Posted at 17:35h, 05 November Reply

      Nancy, you’re so sweet! Thank you!

  • Nikki
    Posted at 10:27h, 04 November Reply

    Wow, the changes are so dramatic! Beautiful color choice, it’s amazing against the grasscloth.
    And I am SO glad you addressed the switch plates & outlet covers; it’s 1 of those details that gets overlooked but makes such a difference in a polished space. 2 thumbs up!

    • Grace
      Posted at 17:35h, 05 November Reply

      Yes! It already looks way better. Thanks Nikki! xoxox

  • Karen Peterson
    Posted at 11:15h, 04 November Reply

    I read several blogs and, if it makes you feel better, they are ALL in the same boat as you. Scrambling to finish in time. Good luck – it’s looking fabulous.

    • Grace
      Posted at 17:35h, 05 November Reply

      Hey Karen, ha, good to know! 😉 xo

  • Norma | The House that Will
    Posted at 17:48h, 04 November Reply

    LOVE the wallpapered ceiling against the dark trim. Excited to see the reveal next week!

    • Grace
      Posted at 17:36h, 05 November Reply

      It’s getting real around here! 🙂 Thank you, Norma! xoxo

  • Emily
    Posted at 13:14h, 07 November Reply

    THIS is going to be amazing!! I love how you gave credit to your husband. I do recall he has a good eye. You guys make a great team!

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